Q and A

Question

What if I miss a dose or take a double dose by mistake?

Hi, if i forget to take my pill on time, or maybe take it twice a day, without remembering i took it, then maybe overdose by mistake. Can it cause any harm to my health?

Answer

Missing an occasional pill is okay

Taking a double dose of HIV medication is usually okay  – but it is not a good idea. The main risk is that you might get side effects for a few hours due to the short time when you have higher drug levels.

Additional doses of other types of medication might require speaking to a doctor or pharmacist about the short term side effects.

It is better to get a pill box. Then you can see each day whether or not you have taken your meds. These are cheap and work really well.

Josh.

Answer revised 16/02/22

144 comments

  1. Christina Antoniadi

    Hello Kat and thanks for getting in touch.

    If you are asking about your ARVs, this is ok

    If you are asking about your Addison’s medication I am afraid I don’t know what they are or how you are supposed to take them.

    Please speak to a healthcare professional if you have questions about your Addison’s tablets.

  2. Kat

    Hi. I accidentally mixed up the order of my 9pm pills with my 3pm half pill today; 12/22/2024. I have Addisons Disease and am very diligent about correctly taking my medications. Is this small happy accident okay and can I go back to my normal schedule tomorrow; 12/23/2024?

  3. Simon Collins

    Hi Lumbwe, thanks – this sounds ok but please see this guide for more info on dosing:
    https://i-base.info/uk-guide-to-prep/

  4. Lumbwe

    I took 2 pills of prep after 12hours of taking 1, then I continued taking 1 after 24hours. Am I still safe?

  5. Simon Collins

    Hi Miguel, several studies report that anyone routinely taking at least four doses of oral PrEP every week with have very good protection. So if you took four or more doses last week, then taking four doses this week will be okay. The timing for these in relation to have sex is less important than if this was just 2:1:1 dosing.
    https://i-base.info/uk-guide-to-prep-february-2024/

  6. Miguel

    If I forgot to take my PrEP medication for 3 days and then took it as normal on the 4th day, followed by having sex an hour later, would the previous doses still protect me if I was the top? If so, what would the efficacy be in the case of a risky encounter (i.e., with an HIV-positive partner and without a condom)?

  7. Simon Collins

    Hi Michael, please don’t worry about this. You don’t need more than two doses a day.

  8. Michael

    twice a day I should drink Co-amoxiclav. i got my medicine mixed up and accidentally took another dose 4 hours after i took the first one. should it still take my next dose or should i skip?

  9. Christina Antoniadi

    Bonjour Sarah,
    unfortunately this is an English speaking only site.
    Please send your question translated

  10. Sarah

    Bonjour j’ai par erreur pris deux fois du perindopril amlodipine zéntiva 4mg /5mg a 7heires d’intervalles
    Est ce grave et que dois je faire

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